It is official! You have just booked your cruise vacation and now you are considering add-ons like excursions, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and more! One of the most popular add-ons is alcoholic beverage packages, but you may not like the cost, as packages can range from $50 to over $100 per person, per day.
This price may seem intimidating. As such, it's common for cruisers to want to sneak alcohol on a cruise. More passengers are inclined to get crafty in their methods of sneaking alcohol onboard the ship, rather than paying for pricey packages.
However, although these techniques may seem impressive and easy to get away with, it is crucial to keep in mind that sneaking alcohol onboard is technically breaking the cruise lines’ rules.
The policies differ based on the cruise line, but regardless, they all prohibit bringing alcohol onboard, unless a passenger brings one 750 ml bottle of unopened wine or champagne with an alcohol percentage under 15%.
The consequences for trying to smuggle alcohol on a cruise ship include being denied boarding! Imagine paying for a great cruise experience and having to throw it all away because you tried to save some money!
That said, you're probably here for a reason. We have some ideas that others have shared about sneaking in the booze, but we also have some great reasons why you should avoid it.
Seven ways to sneak alcohol onto a cruise
While we do not promote sneaking alcohol onboard a cruise, there are a few strategies that have been observed that seem to work for guests:
- Buy 3-ounce plastic bottles and keep them in your carry-on luggage.
- Buy alcohol onboard the ship on one sailing and keep it for a back-to-back cruise.
- Pour out mouthwash and replace it with alcohol. Dark rums in white containers seem to work best; although, some people will even use colored food dye and reseal the bottle.
- Buy a fake flask. These are alcohol flasks meant to look like something else, such as sunscreen bottles, bracelets, and even hair brushes.
- Replace soda with beer. If the cruise line allows non-alcoholic drinks, replace soda with cans of beer in a cardboard case.
- Empty the contents of a wine bottle and replace it with the liquor of your choice. Those who have been successful using this method have placed a heat-activated shrink wrap cap over the cork and often use food dye to mimic red wine.
- Purchase rum runners. They are transparent, sealable plastic bags that are supposed to not look like hidden bottles.
What happens if you get caught bringing alcohol on a cruise?
While there is little risk in sneaking in alcohol, the bottom line is that it is against the cruise line's rules, and there are some good reasons not to do so.
First and foremost, even if you do sneak in alcohol, you will be pretty limited in how to consume it. You will have to constantly go back to your cabin to get refills. Plus, you may be forced to pay for mixers, such as soda or a non-alcoholic cocktail, which negates the savings of sneaking the alcohol onboard.
Imagine having to go out to a bar for a soda or mocktail, just to run it back to your stateroom to add alcohol. That would not work if you were attending a show or some other activity, or you would have to budget time to return into your evening plans, leaving with you less time to fully enjoy the ship's onboard experience.
You also have to think about how much you will be spending to prep. Do you have hidden flasks already, or will you have to purchase them? Are you planning on paying to check a bag just to bring the smuggled alcohol? If so, you could put those funds towards buying drinks on board.
Plus, using the pre-cruise planning time in other ways is more advantageous. Do you know what you are going to pack? What about any shore excursions? These experiences enhance your cruise vacation more than alcohol.
Moreover, no matter how much you manage to sneak on, you will never have the same selection or supply as any ship bar can provide. Part of the fun of cruising is trying new things or indulging in drinks you otherwise would not. If you are limiting yourself to the alcohol you snuck on, you may miss finding a new favorite drink!
Read more: 20 drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package
There is also a risk involved in sneaking alcohol on the ship because if you are caught, you will lose out on the cost of the alcohol, as well as any special containers you bought to try to get it on.
Since you will likely end up paying for drinks if your contraband booze is gone, this will add to the overall cost of your foiled smuggling operation, especially since you would have lost out on any pre-cruise sales.
If, for instance, you pre-purchase Carnival Cruise Line's drink package, you can save up to 10% per day! Likewise, Royal Caribbean offers sales that sometimes discount their drink packages 20% or more per day. Just make sure that you purchase them by the cut off.
It is also worth noting that many cruise lines allow guests to bring a limited amount of wine or champagne on their cruise. Not only is this allowed by the cruise lines, it can significantly assist in reducing the overall drink cost. Royal Caribbean, for instance, allows passengers to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne onboard per person.
They used to allow two bottled per stateroom; however, they recenetly changed their policy. This means that if you have four adults over the age of 21 in the same cabin, four bottles of wine can be brought onboard.
Carnival allows for guests to bring one 750ml bottle of sealed wine or Champagne per person. It's important to look into your specific cruise line's policies regarding bringing alcohol onboard, as they do vary from line to line.
Speaking of drink costs, unlimited alcohol packages are so prevalent and easy to use these days that it makes the effort required to smuggle drinks onto a cruise seem outdated. After all, sneaking in booze was an idea that came from a time when unlimited beverage packages did not exist. Today, drink packages provide an economic way to enjoy drinks on a budget.
If you are sailing on a tight budget, consider also drinking while in port, as the drinks tend to be much cheaper than onboard. Plus, you won't have to go through all the trouble of preparing to sneak alcohol on the cruise ship.
Another great tip is to spend the day at an all-inclusive resort that includes all-you-can-eat and drink. While you will not be able to indulge while on the ship, you will have the opportunity to order whatever you would like to try without feeling limited to cheaper drinks.
Are cruise drink packages worth it?
There is no denying that drink packages can be expensive; however, if you know you want to drink a little bit more than normal on your upcoming cruise, the package could be a wise investment. With some cruise lines charging upwards of $16.00 per cocktail after the added gratuity, it is no wonder that the popularity of drink packages has increased.
When considering purchasing one, the most important thing to think about is whether you will break even or not. If you would spend less money purchasing each drink a la carte, that is the wiser financial move. On the other hand, some people value the convenience more. With a package, you can get a drink whenever you want. Plus, you can try new beverages without feeling like you are wasting money.
How to save money on alcohol while on a cruise
If you are trying to cruise on a budget, a drink package probably is not something that is on the table. Do not worry, though! You can still enjoy some of your favorite libations without breaking the bank.
Oftentimes, cruises will have a "drink of the day," which is a special drink that is offered at a discount. Likewise, you can opt to drink in port, so long as you stay away from the tourist traps. You could end up paying more for a drink here than on the ship!
Moreover, think about buying a bucket of beer, rather than individual bottles or cans. This will likely help you save a few dollars. If you love a certain wine, buy the bottle instead of singular glasses. If you do not finish it, you can have it recorked to enjoy the following day!
Sometimes, there are events onboard that will offer free alcohol. While you will not have a large selection, you might not mind attending an art auction for a free glass of champagne.
One of the most cost-effective ways to save money is to plan on bringing your own wine. Of course, you will have to follow the cruise line's policy; however, if you can bring your two favorite bottles on for less than $40, that is a steal, especially if you are going on a weekend cruise.
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
